Retail Council of Canada Urges Federal Government To Decrease Tax Burdens In Budget

Toronto, November 2, 2005 - Retail Council of Canada (RCC) President and CEO, Diane J. Brisebois, appeared before the Federal Standing Committee on Finance in Toronto today, to present retailers’ views to the government as it prepares for the 2006-2007 federal budget.

RCC is concerned about the ongoing tax burden faced by Canadians and urges the federal government to support a multi-year commitment to significantly reduce the government’s tax demands on Canadians, especially for low and middle income earners.

“Retail Council of Canada is deeply concerned about the economic situation of Canadians and the future of their standard of living,” says Brisebois. “The retail industry’s present and future growth relies heavily on Canadians’ ability to buy goods and services. In 15 years, Canadians’ incomes have remained relatively stagnant with real per capita disposable income rising at an annual growth rate of only 0.3 per cent. During this same period, federal revenues rose more than five times faster — by 1.7 per cent annually.”

Brisebois adds, “The retail industry can only grow, provide jobs, increase wages and invest more in our communities if the federal government develops fiscal policies that support and increase disposable income levels and reduce tax burdens for Canadians on a long-term basis.”

Retail Council of Canada (www.retailcouncil.org) is the Voice of Retail. It is a not-for-profit association whose more than 9,000 members represent all retail formats, including national and regional department stores, mass merchants, specialty chains, independent stores and online merchants.

Contact Information

Theresa Rogers

Retail Council of Canada

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